Thailand: Mass Cannabis Retail Closure as Model Shifts to ‘Medical Only’
Thailand’s move away from general adult-use towards a ‘medical only’ model has led to the decimation of that country’s ‘Grey Zone’. Of the 18 000 cannabis outlets facing closure, fewer than 15% are likely to continue under new regulations which specify that cannabis sales are for medical use only.
Trump Opens the Door for Psychedelic Drugs to Treat Serious Mental Illness
President Donald Trump has opened the door for psychedelic drugs to be used as a potential treatment for serious mental illness. He signed an executive order on 18 April 2026 that empowers the FDA to do this and put aside US$50 million for psychedelics research.
The Big Cannabis Issue Facing the World: Who Benefits from Legalization and Who Gets Left Behind?
International collaboration is one of the pathways for marginalized cannabis communities to have their voices heard. Soweto Cannabis Association founder Tia Ramfate (pictured here) is to visit Canada to strengthen international ties for the AfuRaka Foundation she has launched.
Lesotho Rising: New Markets Await as MG Health and LuCan Labs Awarded EU GMP Certification
Lesotho’s cannabis revival has been given a huge boost with independent EU-GMPCertification awarded to MG Health and LuCan Labs late last year. MG Health founder Andre Bothma, says the recognition is a major step forward in the company’s global cannabis strategy that will benefit the country as a whole.
Traditional Healer Turns to Public Protector to Recover R35 m Cannabis IP Assets Allegedly Destroyed by SAPS
Anthony Karoly Smida says cannabis saved his life and now the police are ruining it. The Vaal Triangle medicinal cannabis researcher and healer has registered a complaint with the Public Protector alleging ongoing SAPS harassment and the destruction of valuable cannabis research assets to the tune of R34 million.
CAB’s Legal Hackles Rise as Botswana Govt Gives Civil Society the Cannabis Cold Shoulder
The Cannabis Association of Botswana is embarking on the lawfare route to force Government to recognize that civil society has a place in the development of a local cannabis economy. CAB has been waiting for a year to be registration and has decided to go to court to force the authorities to come clean on the delay.
Cannabis Act May Never See the Light of Day As Prince Throws a Legal Spanner in the Works
Critics have long-warned that the Cannabis Act is fundamentally flawed – from a constitutional and policy perspective. Although Gareth Prince’s Western Cape High Court challenge is not targeting the Act specifically, if it succeeds, South Africa’s first pass at a cannabis law will either have to be rewritten or replaced.
MBOSA: 420 Day in North West is About Economic Justice and Cultural Preservation
MBOSA has got SAPS clearance to hold a celebratory no-holds-barred 420 Day Summit in North West Province this weekend. The organization is promising a combo of festivities, free cannabis trade, unharassed consumption and ‘national dialogue’ discussions around integrating cannabis into the formal economy.
Prince Challenges Cannabis Act in Court in a Legal Bid to Halt SAPS Arrests
South Africa’s leading cannabis activist Gareth Prince is to file an urgent application in the Western Cape High Court today that calls for a halt to cannabis arrests and challenges the foundations of the Cannabis Act.
Cannabis Green Washing: It’s a Matter of Time Before the Compliance Spotlight Shines in Dark Places
Greenwashing is the false presentation of products in order to secure EU GMP certification. It is becoming an increasingly common practice as multinationals exploit the ambiguities of global compliance. Guest writer Tom Hoban says it is a matter of time before these loopholes are closed down.